Ex-campaign treasurer pleads guilty to fraud

SACRAMENTO, Calif. _ Kinde Durkee, once a go-to campaign treasurer for Democratic candidates in California, pleaded guilty Friday to five counts of mail fraud after an FBI investigation found she pilfered more than $7 million in political funds from at least 50 clients, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller delayed a decision on how long the prominent campaign worker will spend behind bars.

In the largest embezzlement case involving political funds in California history, Durkee is alleged to have taken money from campaign committees she managed for prominent Democrats including Reps. Loretta Sanchez of Garden Grove, Linda Sanchez of Lakewood and Susan Davis of San Diego; and state Sen. Lou Correa and Assemblyman Jose Solorio, both of Santa Ana.